Radiator terminology: lockshield valves
 

Some basic central heating questions:

* Whats the difference between a "lockshield" valve and a thermostatic
control valve -- the ones with numbers 1 to 10, say, which you turn to
control individual radiator temp.

* Thermostatic control valves -- should they be turned clockwise to
reduce radiator temp, anti-clockwise to increase radiator temp? Is
there a standard direction in which they operate?

Bruce

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
wrote:

Some basic central heating questions:

* Whats the difference between a "lockshield" valve and a thermostatic
control valve -- the ones with numbers 1 to 10, say, which you turn to
control individual radiator temp.

* Thermostatic control valves -- should they be turned clockwise to
reduce radiator temp, anti-clockwise to increase radiator temp? Is
there a standard direction in which they operate?

Bruce

There are actually 3 variations - but 2 of them share many common parts.

Standard manual valves and lockshield valves are the same animal but with
different plastic tops. Manual valves have a knob which you can turn - like
a tap - to open and close them. Lockshield valves have a cover over the end
of the spindle which doesn't rotate it. These are for balancing the system,
are turned with a spanner, and then fitted with their tamper-proof cover to
prevent the setting being changed.

Thermostatic valves have a wax capsule which expands when it gets hot, and
pushes on a plunger which closes the valve - thus providing a degree of
automatic temperature control for a room. They have a knob with numbers on
to select comfort level. The higher the number set, the hotter the room can
get before they shut off. I think you normally get higher numbers by
turning the knob anti-clockwise - but it's the numbers which matter,
whichever way it turns.
--
Cheers,
Set Square
______
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Set Square wrote:

There are actually 3 variations - but 2 of them share many common parts.

Standard manual valves and lockshield valves are the same animal but with
different plastic tops. Manual valves have a knob which you can turn - like
a tap - to open and close them. Lockshield valves have a cover over the end
of the spindle which doesn't rotate it. These are for balancing the system,
are turned with a spanner, and then fitted with their tamper-proof cover to
prevent the setting being changed.

To the extent that sometimes when you buy a lockshield valve you
actually get the valve with two alternate plastic tops. One that engages
with the valve and acts as a knob - turning it into a conventional
radiator valve, the other that is just a cover for use in "lockshield mode".


--
Cheers,

John.

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